One of the top lawmen in from the Mexican state of Nayarit has been arrested by U.S. authorities in connection with his alleged role as a top cartel figure. The alleged part-time drug lord is believed to have made at least $250 million that federal prosecutors are looking to seize.
Federal authorities arrested Edgar “El Diablo” Veytia on Monday at an international bridge that connects the Tijuana airport with California. On Tuesday, Veytia went before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in San Diego who ordered that he be held without bond until his case is turned over to a district court in New York.
Court records obtained by Breitbart Texas revealed that Veytia was formally charged on March 2, when a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of New York handed down a three-count indictment against him. The charges against Veytia deal with various conspiracies aimed at importing, trafficking, and distributing marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin.
The indictment was handed down under seal meaning the information was not public until his arrest. It remains unclear if other defendants are also named.
Prior to his arrest, Veytia was the attorney general for the Mexican state of Nayarit. That state is considered to be one of the safe havens for the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, (CJNG) an offshoot of the Sinaloa Cartel that in recent years has grown exponentially. The court records point to Veytia using the nickname “El Diablo” and “Lic Veytia”, appearing to show a term of endearment with the alleged drug traffickers. Prosecutors are looking to seize at least $250 million in assets and proceeds from the case surrounding Veytia.
Edgar Veytia Indictment by ildefonso ortiz on Scribd
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Stephen K. Bannon. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.
“J.M. Martinez” from the Cartel Chronicles project contributed to this report.